Studio 619 for September 9, 2007

Next month the former President of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, is expected to discuss “Restructuring Global Priorities in the 21st Century” at the Kentucky Center. He’ll be the speaker of the Global Issues Forum series through the World Affairs Council of Kentucky and Southern Indiana.

When southern Indiana resident Gail Heller lost her beloved dog Chance in 1998, part of her grieving process was to create a website honoring the animal. In the months that followed, she connected with others who were in the same position. In the years since, Heller has expanded that memorial into a full-service website that includes a weekly support group and tips for consoling people who are dealing with the loss of a pet.

This week marks the organization’s first foray into community outreach – with a candlelight vigil Sunday evening for Louisville-area pets that have died.

Heller spoke with WFPL’s Stephanie Sanders about her website, the memorial service and the similarities between grieving a pet and grieving a family member.

UK – UofL Challenge

A creative effort by the American Red Cross brings in donors on behalf of the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky. The U of L/UK challenge is state-wide this year – when donors give blood, they state their favorite team.

The challenge finishes this week, after a major summer blood drive on September 11th. WFPL’s Heidi Caravan spoke with Loni White from the American Red Cross about the challenge.

They Might Be Giants

For more than two decades, John Flansburgh and John Linnell, better known as the musical duo “They Might Be Giants” have been entertaining a loyal base of fans with their style of rock, categorized as alternative, experimental or just plain quirky.

They’ve also enjoyed mainstream success with their theme music for television programs such as “Malcolm in the Middle”, and their venture into the world of children’s music.

They Might Be Giants will perform at the Kentucky Center in Louisville this Friday in conjunction with The Idea Festival. Flansburgh and Linnell are touring in support of their new 13-song CD release, “The Else”.

Flansburgh spoke with WFPL’s Rick Howlett.

A Day in the Life

Most people check the weather forecast at least once a day. It’s an industry that has become increasingly mainstream as television news stations offer more weather coverage and the internet features a number of ways to monitor conditions. But there’s only one agency that is in charge of issuing those all-important watches and warnings. They’re staffed 24-hours a day, even when it’s a cloudless, 75-degree day.

They’re the meteorologists of the National Weather Service – and WFPL’s Stephanie Sanders spent a day with forecaster Mark Jarvis at the Louisville office.